• Defence Notes

  Embraer approached to produce ventilators for Brazil

  27th March 2020

  Embraer is working with other defence and aerospace companies to produce ventilators and medical equipment to support the Brazil’s efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Israeli USV programme hits the rocks

  14th April 2020

  The Israeli Navy has terminated a programme to use unarmed and armed unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for maritime patrol missions. Unmanned underwater systems remain under …

• Air Warfare

  Croatia fighter procurement hits dead end again

  9th April 2020

  The Croatian government has suspended a procurement tender for new multirole fighters, citing as its main reason the national emergency surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, exacerbated …

• Land Warfare

  Myanmar to acquire Chinese long-range strike system

  16th April 2020

  Myanmar’s military is reportedly soon set to receive an initial batch of SY-400 precision-guided strike weapons from China. It is not known how many of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Chinese Z-20F ASW helicopter makes tantalising appearance

  10th April 2020

  It is well known that one significant capability gap in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is an effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter, but the …

• Land Warfare

  Arquus finishes production of 500th Bastion

  27th March 2020

  Arquus (formerly known as ACAT) has completed its 500th Bastion Long Range Desert Patrol vehicle which has been in production since 2012. The Bastion can …

• Defence Notes

  Threod Systems launches new ISR divisions

  25th March 2020

  Estonia-based Threod Systems on 24 March announced the creation of two new divisions ­ – Cloud ISR and Homeland Security ISR – as part of a …

• Defence Notes

  Russian COVID-19 response leaves much to be desired

  16th April 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic is a phenomenon that is actively changing politics, economics and society on a global scale. Russia is not yet among the worst-affected …

• Defence Notes

  South America takes on coronavirus

  25th March 2020

  South America’s defence sector has increased its efforts in the regional fight against the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In Colombia, the Science and Technology Corporation …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit to supply SOTM comms to Canadian Armed Forces

  3rd March 2020

  Elbit Systems was selected by Rheinmetall Canada to provide satellite-on-the-move (SOTM) communications as part of its Land Command Support System Life Extension (LCSS LE) programme …

• Defence Notes

  Russia will not postpone spring draft over coronavirus fears

  23rd March 2020

  The Russian Armed Forces is proceeding with its spring draft between 1 April and 15 July, despite the ongoing global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Defence minister …

• Land Warfare

  Sweden gears up for sniper rifle competition

  1st April 2020

  Swedish defence procurement agency FMV expects to start its Sniper Weapon System (SWS) programme later this year. An FMV official told Shephard that preparations are …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin’s GPS III satellite joins US constellation

  25th March 2020

  Lockheed Martin’s GPS III satellite has been integrated into the US GPS constellation under the command of US Space Force’s Space Operations Command. GPS III, …

• Naval Warfare

  Shutdown impacts launch of second Italian PPA patrol vessel

  7th April 2020

  As widely expected, the scheduled launch of the second-in-class PPA (Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura) patrol vessel Francesco Morosini has slipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and …

• Training

  Quantum3D launches latest MANTIS

  31st March 2020

  Quantum3D has released the latest version (v.3.5.0) of its MANTIS image generation software. According to the California-based company, this iteration has been developed to ‘push …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Programme Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with ...

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGNIT aircraft [Germany]

  Programme Background The Pegasus (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) project aims to fulfil a SIGINT capability which has been missing in the German Armed Forces ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Xtender [US]

  Programme Background Previous Procurement In early 2021, the US Department of Defence awarded a contract to XTEND for the platform in partnership with Isreal's MoD. ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (1-3) [UAE]

  Programme Background The GlobalEye is a modification of Bombardier's Global 6000 jet aircraft fitted with the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 0: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Data links

  Data links | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | MVX Programme [Finland]

  Seeking to replace its two ageing Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), the Finnish Border Guard commenced its MVX program in 2019. The programme, which was ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Gray Eagle 25M (National Guard) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement In FY2021, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGUAS) announced that it was "critical" that it fielded the MQ-1C Gray Eagle ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M Black Hawk (First Contact) [Croatia]

  Programme Background Western Technology With the help of the US, Croatia has attempted to improve its military technology, replacing Soviet equipment, such as the Mi-8/Mi-17. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  J-11B/D

  China’s shifting focus from traditional security concerns to a global power competition has brought along changes in the PLAAF strategic mission. The PLA as a ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  IM-SHORAD

  Unveiled at AUSA 2019, Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) is a multipurpose platform, based on the Stryker IFV, which moves and maneuvers in ...

• Trainer

  HJT-36 Sitara

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed the subsonic HJT-36 Sitara single-engine aircraft to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian ...

• Military UGVs

  WOLF-X

  The WOLF-X is a wheeled 8x8 Robotic Combat Vehicle developed by HDT Global in partnership with McQ and BAE Land & Armament Systems. In September 2023, as ...

• EO/IR systems

  MS-177

  The MS-177 is an EO/IR sensor designed to enhance the strategic ISR capabilities of the US military's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS over land and maritime ...

• Military UGVs

  Robotics Technology Demonstrator

  BAE Systems unveiled its Robotics Technology Demonstrator (RTD) at the AUSA exhibition in 2019. Designed to meet the requirements of the US Army's Robotic Combat ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk is a HALE UAV manufactured by General Atomics (GA-ASI).  Primarily designed to carry ISTAR payloads, the platform has accumulated more than 200,000 ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Khordad-3

  Khordad-3 is a long-range air defence missile system in service with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force of Iran.  The system was unveiled ...

• Bomber

  H-6

  The People's Liberation Army Air Force has eight regiments of bombers and they operate an estimated 160 H-6 variants that have been in service since ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Atmaca

  Atmaca (“Hawk” in English) is a long-range, anti-ship cruise missile developed by Roketsan. The missile is intended to replace the Harpoon missile in Turkey's inventory. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Twister

  Unveiled at AUSA 2023, the Twister is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Quantum-Systems. It will be released in Q2 2025. It is an eVTOL drone ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Reliant

  The Reliant is a Quantum Systems VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone unveiled at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week Exhibition 2024. The hybrid drone is due to ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Fang

  Fang is a first-person view (FPV) UAS for precision strike roles. The drone is aimed to launch in Q2 2025. Developed by Red Cat, the drone ...

• Data links

  GSNC

  Global Secure Network Connection (GSNC) provides a global data communications solution for military aircraft, including bomber, refuelling and transport aircraft. The GSNC system uses Iridium ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

  BAE Systems' Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) was developed in response to a US Army requirement for a platform to replace the ageing M113 APCs in ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-400

  The HERO-400 is a loitering munition manufactured by UVision. Part of the HERO family, the HERO-400 can accurately strike against a range of targets. It ...